5 Jan
2014
5 Jan
'14
5:30 p.m.
----------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 16:13:21 +0000
Subject: Re: Ten classic electronic calculators from the 1970s and 1980s ? The Register
From: lproven at gmail.com
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
On 5 January 2014 15:54, dwight <dkelvey at hotmail.com> wrote:
Sorry about the format ( Outlook )
Order of operations becomes much more important as
things become more abstract. It is hard to describe in simples
math problems. Being able to tell the computer what to do and in what
exact order you expect it to be done can make quite a difference
when creating correct code.
In most all case, when one abstracts operations, one tends to order
them in the sequence they are expected to be done. Even in languages
that have algebraic notation for math. Crossing between the two is
clumsy.
Dwight
It is funny, once I saw how clumsy an
algebraiccalculator was to use for more complex problems,I found the RPN entry to make
more sense.When you actually work the problems, you find thatit matches the order that
you'd enter the values ona HP calculator.Doing complex problem used to be either a
lotof memory buttons or (()) buttons just to match theequations.It goes something like
this:Take these two numbers and add them together.Then take these three numbers and add
them together.Now multiply the results together.As compared to:(3 +4 +5) * ( 2+7 )
I think you need a new space bar and return key!
I have often heard this, but I did not find it myself. Perhaps it
depends on the way the individual's mind works. It took me some time
and effort to master algebra and algebraic notation in school. Once I
had done so, when later on others came along and said "oh no, you
don't want to do it like that!" then I did not take it well.
Algebraic notation works well for me. It's how I write stuff down, and
therefore, it's how I want a calculating tool to work as well. Getting
a calculator that understood brackets was a big step forward and made
everything else easy.
--
Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile
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